The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-04-16


stockade by the pressure behind, and
the animals in the rear made renewed
eXertions to get away from the terrible
sights and sounds so close behind them.
Only one elephant broke back; she
careered through the men. who escaped
in the most marvellous manner; III
her terror she went through the fire
| lines, most unusual proceeding for an
elephant. She unfortunately killed a
man on the surround some two miles
from the stockade, after which no more
was seen of her.
When | saw the elephants struggling
before the gate never believed that so
many Q36 as it turned ouD could by
any possibility get into stockade 213
feet in circumference. The area was
then less than that of circle of SIM
lar circumference, as our stockades
have thirteen straight sides of fifteen
feet each. and the gate side of twenty
feet. We never expected our stockades
would hold over one hundred elephants;
sixty-tive was the greatest number we
had ever impounded before, though ]
must say they had plenty of room when
the resistance was overcome and the
final struggle to get into the stockade
began. The thing seemed impossible
after seeing the elephants half covering
a hillside or trooping along in single
file. One wave to the man who stood
over the gate rope with his axe, and the
ponderous gate came down on the backs
of the last few elephants, and as they
struggled from under it, and it fell into
position, it was quickly dashed by many
willing hands.
Immediately everybody went to work
to strengthen the stockade 1t was
never really in danger, but we made
assurance doubly sure. A supple
mental stockade was at once commenced
by barricading off twenty yards of the
space between the guiding palisades
outside the gate. The elephants were
pounded at one p. m, but it was not until
$50 p. m. that all was ready. We then
hauled up to the gate and relieved them
from the Black Hole-like confinement
of the stockade by admitting them into
the new one. 1t was filled at once, but
really the crowd in the first stockade
hardly seemed decreased. Early next
morning we shut of some thirty-five ele-
plants in the supplemental stockade by
closing the gate, and the tame elephants
were then admitted, and by evening
had secured this lot and removed and
tied them up in the forest near. AT
night the gate between the stockades
was again raised to give the remainder
room, and wild plantain trees and
other succulent cooling fodder were
supplied to them. BY next morning we
had followed out two tree trunks TWEEN
ty feet long, and pushed their ends
through the timbers of the stockade,
and by keeping men with buckets carry
ing water from the Ganol stream, which
flowed within few yards of the stock
AIDE, we supplied the thirsty animals
with plenty of cold, clear mountain
water, for which they seemed heartily
thankful, and which in addition to drink
ing they showered over their bodies
For the seventy-nine elephants the men
earned 245 rupees as present among
about seventy of them. On the third
day, the 18th, the last of the elephants
was removed, and the whole number
tied ia a large clearing in the forest
near. Here they are now before me as
| write, and in camp with them are
numerous tame elephants. The ele-
plants being loosened and taken to
water, struggling at their picket, or
standing in dignified silence with thick
cables round their necks and legs,
anchoring them fore and aft between
trees, form Il scene which ought to be
painted. In few days they will be
marched down to the low country in
squads by easy stages. l need hardly
say that such capture as 1856 elephants
was never made before, and we ascribe
our luck to the presence of a lady at
the drive, and to this being the jubilee
year. l intended to roll large bowlder
into the stockade by the help Of our
tame elephants, and to have an inscrip-
ton cut on it, recording the event of
this unprecedented capture in the
fiftieth year of her Majesty's reign
Pail Mall GuzPte